Humble Games, a cornerstone publisher in the indie gaming scene, has abruptly closed its doors. Known for supporting independent developers and delivering critically acclaimed titles, Humble Games’ sudden disappearance will surely leave a void in the industry. The shock closure of the company is a loss, not just for the publisher’s dedicated team, but for the strong community of fans and collaborators that Humble Games have spent the past seven years building.
The closure of Humble Games is, unfortunately, part of a broader trend of layoffs affecting the gaming industry. As studios grapple with increased challenges, the gaming sector’s job market has become increasingly unstable. In 2024, the only gaming sector that continues to grow reliably is iGaming. In particular, online slot apps, remain immensely popular, with Vlad Grindu sharing that over 60% of Americans prefer to play their favorite games on mobile slots apps. This suggests that gambling game development may be the most stable career path for aspiring developers.
In an attempt to soften the news, Humble Games initially described their decision to lay off 36 employees as “restructuring.” But when it came to light that the layoffs represented the dismissal of Humble Games entire staff it quickly became clear that this was a complete shutdown of operations. Humble Games has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the closure, citing only “challenging market conditions” as the reason. The lack of prior notice for the decision, combined with a lack of transparency from Humble Games, has left industry observers stunned and sadly tarnished the once-good reputation of the company as it bows out.
Whether or not Humble Games handled their closure correctly, the fact is that they are far from alone in facing challenges. Layoffs, closures, and downsizing efforts seem to be increasingly commonplace in the gaming industry year after year. 2024 has been no exception.
Take-Two Interactive announced layoffs in February and followed up with the closure of multiple studios in May. Unity Software, a major player in game development tools, laid off a quarter of its workforce in January. Even industry giants like Sony and its subsidiaries, Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games, have been affected by layoffs.
The cause of these widespread layoffs is no secret. Rising development costs, fierce competition, and high pressure to produce commercial successes makes for a turbulent gaming industry. While humble games should have handled their closure with more grace and decorum the loss of a company that has championed indie developers for close to a decade is a major blow.
While the loss of Humble Games is a setback, it does serve as a reminder of the gaming industry’s resilience. Despite challenges, Indie development remains a powerful force. Alternative revenue models like subscription services and cloud gaming are gaining traction and offer promising new avenues for growth. The stable and flourishing iGaming industry can continue to provide reliable employment for developers, and the blockchain technology powering crypto betting sites may soon revolutionize traditional gaming, breathing fresh life into the industry.